40 Must-Read English Short Stories for High School Students

40 Must-Read English Short Stories for High School Students

Reading is a great way to improve one's language skills, and short stories are an excellent choice for high school students. They are concise, engaging, and often convey powerful messages. Here are 40 must-read English short stories for high school students.

1. The Necklace by Guy de Maupassant

What is the message of The Necklace? Why is it considered a classic?

2. The Most Dangerous Game by Richard Connell

What is the theme of The Most Dangerous Game? How does it explore the concept of morality?

3. The Tell-Tale Heart by Edgar Allan Poe

What is the narrator's mental state in The Tell-Tale Heart? How does Poe create a sense of tension and suspense?

4. A Sound of Thunder by Ray Bradbury

What is the butterfly effect? How does it relate to the plot of A Sound of Thunder?

5. The Lottery by Shirley Jackson

What is the purpose of The Lottery? How does it explore the dark side of human nature?

6. The Gift of the Magi by O. Henry

What is the central message of The Gift of the Magi? How does it demonstrate the power of love?

7. The Monkey's Paw by W.W. Jacobs

What is the theme of The Monkey's Paw? How does it explore the concept of fate?

8. The Lady or the Tiger? by Frank R. Stockton

What is the dilemma presented in The Lady or the Tiger? How does it explore the theme of choices?

9. The Cask of Amontillado by Edgar Allan Poe

What is the motive behind the narrator's actions in The Cask of Amontillado? How does Poe use irony to create a sense of horror?

10. The Scarlet Ibis by James Hurst

What is the message of The Scarlet Ibis? How does it explore the theme of pride?

11. The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman

What is the narrator's mental state in The Yellow Wallpaper? How does it relate to the theme of gender roles?

12. The Open Window by Saki

What is the twist in The Open Window? How does it create a sense of irony?

13. The Ransom of Red Chief by O. Henry

What is the motive behind the kidnapping in The Ransom of Red Chief? How does it explore the theme of unexpected consequences?

14. The Secret Life of Walter Mitty by James Thurber

What is Walter Mitty's coping mechanism in The Secret Life of Walter Mitty? How does it relate to the theme of escapism?

15. The Masque of the Red Death by Edgar Allan Poe

What is the symbolism behind the colors in The Masque of the Red Death? How does it explore the theme of mortality?

16. The Snows of Kilimanjaro by Ernest Hemingway

What is the significance of the title in The Snows of Kilimanjaro? How does it explore the theme of regret?

17. The Outsider by H.P. Lovecraft

What is the narrator's mental state in The Outsider? How does it relate to the theme of isolation?

18. The Pit and the Pendulum by Edgar Allan Poe

What is the narrator's fear in The Pit and the Pendulum? How does Poe create a sense of claustrophobia?

19. The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County by Mark Twain

What is the humor in The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County? How does it explore the theme of deception?

20. The Red Badge of Courage by Stephen Crane

What is the theme of The Red Badge of Courage? How does it explore the concept of heroism?

21. The Fall of the House of Usher by Edgar Allan Poe

What is the symbolism behind the house in The Fall of the House of Usher? How does it explore the theme of madness?

22. The Lottery Ticket by Anton Chekhov

What is the central message of The Lottery Ticket? How does it explore the theme of greed?

23. The Sniper by Liam O'Flaherty

What is the message of The Sniper? How does it explore the theme of war?

24. The Devil and Tom Walker by Washington Irving

What is the central message of The Devil and Tom Walker? How does it explore the theme of greed?

25. The Necklace of Pearls by Dorothy Parker

What is the irony in The Necklace of Pearls? How does it explore the theme of appearances?

26. The Adventure of the Speckled Band by Arthur Conan Doyle

What is the mystery in The Adventure of the Speckled Band? How does it explore the theme of revenge?

27. The Secret Sharer by Joseph Conrad

What is the symbolism behind the sea in The Secret Sharer? How does it explore the theme of identity?

28. The Gift of the Emperor by E.M. Forster

What is the message of The Gift of the Emperor? How does it explore the theme of cultural differences?

29. The Open Boat by Stephen Crane

What is the message of The Open Boat? How does it explore the theme of survival?

30. The Fall of a City by Aldous Huxley

What is the message of The Fall of a City? How does it explore the theme of power?

31. The Cripple and the Starfish by Flannery O'Connor

What is the symbolism behind the starfish in The Cripple and the Starfish? How does it explore the theme of redemption?

32. The Little Match Girl by Hans Christian Andersen

What is the central message of The Little Match Girl? How does it explore the theme of poverty?

33. The Red-Headed League by Arthur Conan Doyle

What is the mystery in The Red-Headed League? How does it explore the theme of deception?

34. A Rose for Emily by William Faulkner

What is the message of A Rose for Emily? How does it explore the theme of isolation?

35. The Hitchhiker by Lucille Fletcher

What is the twist in The Hitchhiker? How does it create a sense of suspense?

36. The Monkey's Wrench by Primo Levi

What is the message of The Monkey's Wrench? How does it explore the theme of work?

37. The Last Leaf by O. Henry

What is the central message of The Last Leaf? How does it explore the theme of hope?

38. The Diary of a Madman by Nikolai Gogol

What is the narrator's mental state in The Diary of a Madman? How does it relate to the theme of sanity?

39. The Man Who Would Be King by Rudyard Kipling

What is the message of The Man Who Would Be King? How does it explore the theme of imperialism?

40. The Lost Child by Mulk Raj Anand

What is the message of The Lost Child? How does it explore the theme of childhood?

These 40 English short stories offer a wide range of themes, styles, and genres. They are perfect for high school students who want to improve their language skills and explore different perspectives. Happy reading!

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